Blog Entries tagged 'bowcast'

BowCast In The Field - Hunt Day 2

aroney@bowcast.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:00 +0100

A long day.� We caught up with a few bucks we left last night.� Unfortunately we were c-blocked by a fork horn that had us backing out by mid-day to ensure we didn't mess up the big bucks we had spotted in the area we were hunting.

Also, check out tonight's podcast and the video below as we�had our first "kill" of the hunt.� Miles was able to take out a coyote just a few minutes after we arrvied back at the truck for lunch.

The afternoon found us exploring some new properties.� But, we were able to get back to our bucks and put them to bed before sundown.� Tomorrow promises to be an exciting (and early) morning!

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[...]

BowCast In the Field - Hunt Day 1

aroney@bowcast.com — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:00 +0100

Excitement, humility, humor, and an all around great time.� Our first hunt day was a ton of fun!� We saw some great bucks, yet gained more of an understanding on why big Mule Deer are some of the hardest big game animals to hunt.� We are having some technical difficulties with uploading pictures, but hopefully we'll get that worked out in the next day or two.

As far as today - the main goal was trying to get on the "Skirkles" buck.� We got VERY VERY VERY close.� but had to leave him with several does and a couple of other shooter bucks.� We'll see what tomorrow has in store for us.� In the meantime, enjoy the video below.

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Aneal

[...]

Jason - More Trail Cam Pictures

amaro_jason@hotmail.com — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:00:00 +0100

Hey Everybody...

� How about some trail cam pictures???� This is that little spot I found where a rancher tossed a salt block for his cattle.� He pulled the cattle out of the area but my deer are still around.� I suspect that the deer are going to really start hitting the area once our summer rains start.� This spot is on the edge feeding and bedding area.� It is about a 1/3 of a mile for a pretty significant water source so I think the deer are going to stay in the area.� The only issue I have is that I KNOW that there are much bigger deer in the general area but I can't figure out where they are bedding or where they are watering.� During the rut this area was TORE up with scrapes but I didn't get a chance to hunt it.� The crummy part is that I might not even get to hunt this unit because it is a tough draw.� So this weekend I planing on scouting my 2nd draw choice.

�One think you might notice is that� my Coues Deer are holding onto there antlers well into April.� For deer in the Southwest that is pretty common.�

�Again I am using Covert Trail Cams that I picked up from Amanda at www.coueswhitetail.com

How about this Buck?� He has nice mass and a great frame but he need longer and more points...

�

[...]

Jason - Coues Deer Sheds

amaro_jason@hotmail.com — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:00:00 +0100

Hey Guys..

�I hope everybody is still scouting hard... This is the time of year where we see what animals made it thru the hunts...� In NM, the deer started dropping their antlers about two weeks ago...� BUT alot of them are still packing, last week I saw several 1/2 rack mulies.�

BUT I did find some older sheds.��

�Cisco and I found this skull at the same time.� It is about a 95 inch Coues Deer.�

�

After about a 5 mile hike I found this one about 300 yards from my truck.� It is a nice Coues Deer whose mainbeem really wraps around...

[...]

Jason - Trail Cam Pictures - Deer and Javis

amaro_jason@hotmail.com — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:00:00 +0100

Hey Guys...

� If you have been reading my blog long you might remember that I found a place that doesn't get hunted very hard but that I always find scrapes in the area.� So once our season finished I hung a Covert Camera in the area to see if I could pick up any deer in the area.� The good news is that I found a ton of deer.� The bad news is that most of them are Mulies.� I also found a nice herd of Javelina's. �

I am using the Covert Cameras which are the same as the ScoutGuard Cameras... I have tried them all and these little cameras are by far the best I have tried.� You can order them at Coues Whitetail.

For a past blog entry on these camera's click HERE .

�Here are some pictures.

�How about some stink pigs?

�

�How about a nice Mulie? He is hiding in the back.

How about a Coues Deer Buck?

[...]

Matt- Weekend with Hunter

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:00:00 +0100

BowCasters!� Hope everyone is getting ready for turkey season.�

This past weekend I was able to take my�son, Hunter, to his first�outdoor show.� We spent most of the time looking at the antler section.� There were some great animals killed this year and fresh sheds that renew hope for next season.

One disappointment this year was the lack of elk at the show.� Granted not everyone� that killed an elk will bring it.� But the main reason is very obvious to anyone who hunted in Idaho this year.� Wolves...� They are natural born elk killers.�

Stay informed on the wolf delisting progress.� Even if you will never hunt in WA, ID, OR, MT, or WY you will be affected by the rulings this year.� This is just one way anti-hunters are�trying to�kill�what we live for, HUNTING.

�http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/

[...]

Matt-2008 Whitetail Season

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 02:00:00 +0100

BowCasters!

Yet another whitetail season is behind us and this is the time of year for shed hunting, planning our 2009 hunts, and looking back at the 2008 season.� For some BowCasters, the 2008 season memories and accomplishments are proudly displayed on your wall.� For other BowCasters, the season memories are frozen in time until thawed, consumed, and used to fuel our 2009 season dreams.

My goal for the 2008 whitetail season was to harvest a buck spot and stalk or still hunting.� In this blog I am going to discuss some of the strategies I used and some of the mistakes I made as failed to fill my 2008 Idaho deer tag.

Still Hunting- This year I had deer within 10 feet of me, unaware of my presence.� Being able to experience this was a direct result of scent prevention and constantly knowing the wind direction.� When I am still hunting the most important piece of gear I use is my wind indicator.� I hunt an area with dense cover so I try to position myself in areas I think bucks will be moving through.� My still hunting routine is to step, stop, look, listen, check the wind, wait, check the wind, and wait some more. I used Dead Down Wind e2 Sent Prevent Powder, Scent Killer spray and soap, and Cabela's stalking shoes to increase my chances of getting close to a big buck unnoticed.�

This�field is planted with oats and clover which will get around 4 feet tall in the late summer.� After it is cut in August, fresh grass will grow making it an excellent food source and a good place to hunt in the early mornings or late evenings come October and November.

Spot and Stalk- I usually start the morning off by standing on a rock that overlooks some major travel routes and a field, see picture below.� This year as I was glassing a buck suddenly appeared in the tall swamp grass.� From my vantage point I was about 250 yards away and after I marked where he was I started my stalk.� I got to where I thought I was 30-40 yards away but the buck had vanished.� The wind was blowing right at him and I was pretty sure he had bedded back down in the tall grass.� I waited for an hour and then decided it was time to make something happen.� I started throwing rocks to try and bring him to his feet.� After my arm was sore from throwing rocks, I stood up and walked into the grass.� I got to within 20 yards of where he was bedded down before he surprised me and jumped up leaving me without a shot.

I learned two things with this encounter.� I didn't have the patience to wait him out and I failed to make an accurate mark on where he was before I started my stalk.� For 2009 I will have to work on my patience, and I'm going to take a small note pad and sketch landmarks so I can be precise when stalking.

Grunting- I was only able to hunt one weekend during the rut this year and I saw 7 bucks the first day and 3 my second day.� When bucks are active during this time of the year, late November,�I will grunt every few minutes when still hunting.� I have had success grunting in bucks to 20 yards even when still hunting on frozen crunchy snow or dry leaves.� This year I had success grunting in a buck on the last afternoon of my hunt.� He came in at the wrong angle for a shot but it was fun to have a big buck come storming in and then realize he had been tricked.

I had my chances this year and missed a small 3x3 buck on opening morning.� Shot right over his back but still had a great season and continued to learn about the habits of bucks and the areas I need to work on to make next year a success.� One trophy I did harvest while deer hunting was this grouse at 20 yards.

For 2009 I want to use�a few game cameras and try hunting out of a tree stand, two things I have never done.� Keep an eye out for whitetail sheds during turkey season!

Matt

[...]

Matt-BowCast Arrow

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:00:00 +0100

Fletching a BowCast Arrow�

My home bow shop is growing and as I obtain new equipment�I am learning more about how to work on my bow, bow accessories, and arrows.�� My goal this year is to venture into new areas of archery that I have not explored.

�New year's eve I was watching FMP movies and fletching my Easton Axis 400 FMJ.� I'm sure�many of you�BowCasters have fletched arrows for years and know what works for your set up and what�doesn't.� This is my first attempt so feel free to respond to this blog�with tips or suggestions not only for me but all BowCasters�so�we can make the perfect�arrow to harvest a trophy with this fall.

I used 2" Blazers, Goat Tuff and Fletch Tite�glue, BowCast wraps, and a Bitzenburger fletching jig.� The clamp I used�was a right helical and I tried to get ~2 degrees helical with my vanes.

Step 1-Order BowCast arrow wrap!� I cut the arrow wrap down with a paper cutter so that I wouldn't get any overlap.� Clean the arrow shaft.� Place the wrap on a flat surface and align your arrow with the edge of the wrap.� Roll the arrow making sure there are no air bubbles from the wrap.

Step 2-Make sure your arrow shaft or wrap is clean before you glue the fletching�to ensure a�strong�bond.� Set your fletching jig up with your desired fletching offset if any.��

Step 3- Place the fletching in your jig and mark the�jig at one end of the fletching to ensure�a consistent fletching�alignment�every time.� I used a quick drying glue, Goat Tuff.� Place a small bead of�glue the length of�the fletching.

�

Step 4-Apply adequate pressure to the arrow and hold for 10-15 seconds to allow the glue to set.� Remove the fletching jig by first releasing the clamp as to not disturb the set vane.� Wipe any excess glue with a Qtip if needed.� Rotate jig and set the remaining vanes.

Step 5- After all the vanes were�glued, I took some Fletch Tite and placed a small dot on the front edge of the�vane and the back side of the vane to seal it where it contacts with the arrow shaft.�

Step 6- Let the glue dry and start using your arrows!�

What works best for you?� Do you fletch your own arrows or have your local pro-shop do the work?� Also check out the BowCast Video that Matt Hogue did on fletching an arrow.� However it is done, remember to stay clam, pick a spot, and watch that spot until your BowCast arrow makes that killing strike!

Matt

[...]

Matt- Paper Tuning Part 2

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:00:00 +0100

This blog is a continuation on the steps you can use to tune your bow in your own home bow shop.� If you don't have a paper tuner then check out my blog, Paper Tuning Part 1, which shows how to build one.�

Step1

Mount your arrow rest of choice to the riser.� Place your bow in a bow vice and adjust it so that your string is straight up and down, plumb.� Adjust the elevation of the rest so that your arrow is centered on the center shot hole and is level or at approximately a 90 degree angle from your bow string.� Attach string loop or nock to the string.� Adjust the windage of your rest to center the arrow on the shelf of the riser or so that it aligns with string when looking from behind the bow.

Step 2

Place the target behind the paper tuner so that the arrow can pass through the paper completely and allow you to pull the arrow without interference.� Stand no closer than 6 feet from the paper tuner as you want your arrow to recover from the shot.� I usually stand around 10 feet from the tuner and this allows my arrow to recover if the spine is correct.� It is important to use good shooting form, an arrow with the correct spine, and to squeeze the trigger on your release slowly.� I always make sure that I am the one shooting my bow at a pro shop when it is getting paper tuned as I want it tuned to my shooting style.

�

Step 3

Shoot a few arrows through the paper and look for a consistent tear pattern.� Make adjustments in small increments and continue to shoot the same arrows until you get the desired bullet hole tear.

High Tear-This occurs when the fletching tears the paper above where the tip tears the paper.� A high tear is usually due to nocking point being to high, vane clearance problem, or a weak arrow.� Adjust by lowering the nocking point or raising the arrow rest..

Low Tear-This occurs when the fletching tears the arrow below where the tip tears the paper.� A low tear is an indication of a low nocking point.� Adjust by raising the nocking point or lowering the arrow rest.

Right Tear-This is an indication that your arrow rest is positioned too far to the right and you will need to move it to the left.� It could also be an indication of a weak arrow spine, although rare.

Left Tear-This is an indication that your arrow rest is positioned too far to the left and you will need to move it to the right.� It could also be an indication of an arrow with too stiff of a spine.

Angled Tear-This occurs when the fletching tears at an angle from the tip and will usually take a few adjustments.� Start by adjusting the left or right tear and then the high or low tear.

Bullet Tear-Done!� Shoot a few hundred times to get string strech out if you have a new string and then tune again to see if the tip of the arrow is still in the center of the fletching.

�

The picture below shows how my bow is shooting.� It looks to be a high angled tear.�

I could re-tune my bow and try to get the perfect bullet hole, but paper tuning is only part of the process in getting good�arrow flight.� I have tuned by bow with broadheads which�is causing this tear pattern�as I had to move my rest to the left to bring my field tips and broadheads together at 50 yards.

I will cover broadhead tuning in a follow up blog.

Stay Calm..Pick a Spot

Matt

[...]

Matt-2009 Bows-BowTech

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:00:00 +0100

2009 BowTech Bows

Although I wasn't able to hold any velvet mule deer or whitetail racks in my hands this year, I did hold the velvet risers of the BowTech Captain and Admiral and these bows were dead in my hand after I shot them.�

I am mainly going to�write about the Admiral in this blog as Joe already covered the Captain in his blog.� The main difference between these bows is in the brace height 7.5 vs. 7, ATA 31" vs 34", IBO speed 320 vs. 323,�and the weight.

I shot�the Admiral at ~60 pounds.� This bow has a draw cycle that I though was similar to the Hoyt Alphamax, aggressively smooth with a small valley towards the end and a solid wall.� Upon release this bow had the least amount of hand shock from any bow I have ever shot.� I was very impressed and I loved the feel and dead quiet release.� The Captain was very similar although there was a little variation in the draw cycle due to the longer ATA.

�

New this year on these bows�is the carbon rod string stop which use to come right off of the roller guard.� This year they are below the grip and transition any string vibration to the stabilizer.� The risers are covered in a product called InVelvet which helps dampen the noise and makes for a great feeling finish.� I wish this velvet covering was on my bow!

Another aspect I liked was the grip.� It is slender like the PSE and has wood sides which make for a great feel along with the velvet on the riser.� I didn't feel like I was torquing the bow or it was rolling in my hand.� The riser also is machined to eliminate any extra bulk to reduce the weight and produce some smooth lines�that lead to a�unique looking center pivot riser.�

The center trac binary cam system keeps equal tension on the cam and helps prevent cam lean, leaving the string to push�the arrow through the center line of the bow.� These cams can also be adjusted a full 7 inches, in half inch increments, and have an adjustable draw stop along with an adjustable let-off from 65%-85%.�

Overall I was most impressed with the smooth draw cycle, lack of hand shock and the�balance of these bows.� For me I would choose the Admiral due to the weight factor as it is much lighter than the Captain and the ATA difference.

Go shoot these bows at your local pro shop!� Hope everyone is having a great hunting season and I can't wait to shoot some 3-D in a few months.

Stay Calm... Pick a Spot

Matt

[...]

Matt-2009 Bows-Mathews

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Mathews Reezen 6.5�

Sorry BowCasters I haven't gotten this blog out sooner but I have been busy the past few weeks chasing whitetail and was gone for a week visiting family for Thanksgiving.� I didn't kill a buck yet so I will have to wait until late season where the difficulty increases once again.� But I have done it before and I will let you all know how I do.

I just want to preface this blog by saying that I do have a Mathews and not because it's so similar to my name....I was objective in this review and my opinions were�not swayed.� I was�however one of the people trying to get�on the Mathews website the night the new 2009 bows launched.

The�big�Reasons... for the�Reezen 6.5 shooting 340 fps�are the new cam design and lower brace height.� At first glance this bow looked different from my Drenalin and when held up to each other the difference was mainly in the limb angle as the Reezen 6.5 has limbs that are about an inch lower or more parallel.� At full draw you can really see these limbs going past parallel which isn't uncommon in bows these days.� I shot this bow at about 60 pounds at the same time I was shooting my Drenalin,70lbs, so I could compare some of�the differences.

At first glance this bow isn't that different from the bows Mathews has been selling the past few years.��It has their Lost Camo, the limbs are the slim SE4 Composite Limbs, and�the riser and grip relatively unchanged.

�

The main change in this bow is the new cam that is more aggressive which provides that quoted speed of 340 fps.� I was impressed by the machining on this cam as there were very few sharp edges.� The cam has smooth lines and rounded edges which is different from the cam on my Drenalin.� The string also has a new String Grub to help dampen the string and add to the speed of this bow.

Overall I thought the draw cycle on this bow was harder to pull than my Drenalin and not as smooth in the final few inches as there was a light valley.� This is mainly�attributable to the design of the cam as it is a more aggressive cam.� In the picture below you can see that the cam has more of an oval shape compared to the round shape of the cam on the Drenalin or DXT.

�

Another new feature�on this bow is the quick change axle.� I don't know�how these will perform in the pro shop or field but my first impression is that�the plastic clip�holding the axle could easily break if hit against a rock or tree stand on a cold morning.� I would rather have the original axle and not have to worry about another plastic part�breaking.�

The grip on this bow was relatively unchanged except for a little more rounding of the riser on the backside of the grip.� I though that was a waste of CNC machine time as I would rater it be spent on machining a nice handle out of the riser like on a PSE or Bowtech.� I have had an Outback and Drenalin and on both of these I have�taken the grip off�and replaced it with a custom grip.

These bows still have the harmonic dampening system�in the riser, roller guard, and on the string suppressors.� I do think these features help the noise and vibration in these bows but until I shoot this bow fully set up it would be hard to compare it to the Drenalin or other bows.

This bow did balance very�well at full draw and I would be interested to see how it really shoots, speed and sound,�fully set up�with�hunting accessories.� As with any new bow purchase, this is how I would make my decision while comparing it to my current set up.� Get out to your local pro shop and shoot these bows and see what you think for yourself.� I think the Monster is going to be out in January so I will be interested to shoot that and see how it compares to the PSE X-Force.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!� Get out and hunt!

Matt

[...]

Elk Bull - Score Contest - Dead Down Wind Gift Pack

aroney@bowcast.com — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Howdy folks,

I am back from Montana and collecting all my thoughts and pics to share with you all over Thanksgiving. Stay tuned for the debriefing.

In the meantime, we thought it was about time we gave you guys another contest. Our good friend from Trophies West, Sean Degrey, broke away from his clients last weekend and shot this nice Montana bull. Leave a comment with your guess on the score. The winner (closest score guess) will receive a scent elimination gift pack, courtesy of BowCast.com and Dead Down Wind. We'll close down the contest on November 30, 2008 and announce the winner on the following episode of BowCast. Good Luck!

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And don't forget to sign up on the list to be eligible for a $999 trophy antelope hunt with Trophies West in Montana. There is no obligation for getting on the list, but you must be on the list to get the discount price on the 5 day semi-guided hunt in Montana. Details below.

http:// www.bowcastdiscounthunt.com

[...]

Matt-DIY Antelope

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +0100

�

DIY Montana Antelope

Montana is a HUGE state and it can be incredibly boring to drive across if you don't have something to think about.� This year I made the drive with antelope on the brain!�

After successfully drawing one of the 560 non-resident archery only tags, I was excited for the season and opportunity to chase some speed goats with my bow.� The tag in my pocket was valid for any hunting region 3 through 7.� I had one bonus point and used it to draw a 9000-00 series tag which allowed me to hunt from August 15th to November 9th.�

The deadline for the antelope drawing is by June 2 and so one hour before the deadline I was submitting my request online.� There are other hunt series that allow archery and rifle but the archery portion for these tags is September 6th to October 11th. Check out the Montana FWP website for all the seasons and changes to the archery seasons as they changed this year, http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/default.html.� I am also on their mailing list to receive the hunting regulations every year which are great to have in hand when you are in the field.

I determined where to go by using the Montana FWP website and Eastmans' Bowhunting Journal (EBJ) to narrow down which region I was going to hunt in.� After looking at a map of the antelope distribution and reading the May/June 2008 EBJ issue, I determined a region that would be the target where I would direct my car come August 14th.� The archery success rates for this region looked good to me and would hopefully be worth the drive.� Now I just needed to know which dirt road I was going to drive down and where I was going to hunt.

�

The Montana FWP website has a great Hunt Planner portion to their website, and you can get great statistical information on success rates for drawing your tag and harvest information.� I used this website, EBJ and advice from a friend who lives in Montana to select my hunting district.� I looked on Google Earth until my eyes were blood shot and found a few places that had potential and were on public land.� There was also going to be a few areas that I could hunt on private land with the help of landowners through Montana's Block Management program.� My hat off to the landowners who allow hunters access to the land they own without paying a fee.�

I started the drive on the 14th of August and made a quick stop to pick up the 2008 Hunting Access Guide hot of the press.� This is the Block Management guide for Montana and has maps and access information on where to hunt on private land with the permission of the landowners.� It is a great partnership between hunters and landowners and one that I will be using more in my future hunts.�

I hunted mainly on BLM land open to the public and didn't see but two old farmers who must have thought I was crazy driving my 2000 Mercury Sable down the old dirt roads chasing antelope with a bow.� I also hunted on some Block Management areas.

For me I had to keep the cost of this trip as low as possible so my plan was to hunt on public land or block management areas so I didn't have to pay a trespassing fee.� Another item I did without was a Montana decoy.� I also don't like sitting still for very long and decided to use the spot and stalk method, which was a good choice as there were lots of waterholes all full due to the wet spring and summer.

�

On the first day of the hunt I had 2 stalks that put me within 60-70 yards of a buck.� One buck I hunted was by himself and was a mature P&Y buck with lots of mass.� After making a stalk to within 200 yards I waited 4 hours as we both took naps.� He finally got up and walked over a ridge and I ran up the draw and guessed that he was going to the right on the other side.� As I was crawling over the ridge I spotted him 100 yards away but to my left.� I dropped back down the ridge and ran a few hundred yards to get in front of him.� As I crawled back over the ridge I had positioned myself in front but he spotted me after a few minutes.

Antelope have 20 power eyesight and this big buck was using all of it.� He ran off and I didn't find him until the next morning when I again spooked him out of a draw.� This time I followed him and after a mile or so he came to a fence.� Antelope don't like jumping fences like whitetail do.� They will but as a last resort.� I was on a ridge that ran perpendicular to the fence line and I positioned myself on the ridge 60 yards from the fence.� As the buck made his way down to my position the wind really started to pick up.

The buck would walk 10 feet and stop and look across the fence into the valley below.� Finally he made it to within 75 yards and stopped looking away from me.� I should have drawn at this point but didn't.� I let him advance another 10 yards at which time he stopped and instead of looking out into the valley looked right at me in the tall CRP grass.� I drew my bow and he bolted and then stopped at what I estimated was 70 yards.� My pin was just settling for the shot when he bolted again this time to safety across the fence.�

I was so disappointed!!� This buck was huge and it had been the perfect funnel to drive him to my position.� I learned a lot from this opportunity and really should have filled my tag but that is hunting.� Although I saw plenty of antelope, I didn't have that type of opportunity the rest of the hunt.� It was a long drive home to say the least and I still have that antelope burned in my brain.

�

Here are a few items that I learned on this DIY hunt that I wanted to pass along.�

-Purchase an antelope Montana Decoy.� I have used one before and think it would have worked great a few times on this hunt as the topography doesn't always give you a nice deep draw to make your stalk.� The use of a decoy could have given me a few more seconds at times to draw and aim.

-Take a good spotting scope and tripod.� I was using a Swarovski spotting scope on a $15 tripod, not a good combination when the wind is blowing.� A spotting scope is a must and this glass is the best I have used.� It saved me many hours hiking towards does but when you don't have a tripod with a good head it can get old fast as you try to adjust and then re-adjust on your target.�

-Try to find a taxidermist in the area that you could call and ask about weather conditions and winter survival.� Then make it a point to stop by and meet them so you can start to build a relationship.� If I would have called ahead and talked to one I would have found out that every water hole was full due to the wet summer.� This could have been useful information if I was planning on setting up a blind on a water hole.

-Buy some knee pads and gloves that cactus won't go through as you will be crawling through it if you are using the�spot and stalk method.�

-Mentally I dropped out of this hunt after missing the second opportunity at the big buck.� Be prepared to have stalks that fail.� I think I had the mindset that I was only going to get one good stalk and after I wasn't successful I was in the dumps.� Realize that you will have multiple stalk opportunities each day if you are in a good area and work hard.

-Practice shooting in the wind.� Montana and Wyoming are two very windy states and if you are hunting antelope you better be prepared to shoot in the wind.� I practiced shooting in the wind many times this summer and learning to hold your bow somewhat steady is a challenge that you don't want to learn when you have that chance on your perfect stalk.

-Listen to the antelope trilogy series again on BowCast!!!

If anyone has any questions on this hunt or wants me to expand in any area, please let me know and I will do a follow up blog entry.� As for the season... I never made it back over to Montana but will be putting in for the drawing next year.

[...]

Matt-2009 Bows-PSE

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +0100

2009 PSE Bows

I hope everyone is having a great whitetail season and possibly some late season elk.� I will be chasing both the next two weeks and keep you posted on my efforts.� During the next few weeks I am going to try and shoot as many of the new 2009 bows as possible and give you my thoughts�on how they compare.��

Wednesday I went to my local pro shop and was able to shoot the new 2009 PSE bows.� The sales rep was there and discussed with me all the new aspects of these bows.� This was the first time I had shot any of the new split limb PSE bows and I have to say that I was very impressed with some of the aspects of these bows.

The three bows that�I�was most impressed with�were the X-Force GX, X-Force Dream Season GX, and X-Force Super Short GX.� All three of these bows have the same GX Hybrid Cam System.� Its one of the most unique cams I have ever seen due to its shape.� The bows also come with an America's Best Premium bowstring�with strategically placed�speed nocks.� The riser has a Vibracheck Backstop string stop and the grip on these bows are very ergonomic, fitting perfectly in your hand.��

The Super Short GX was the first bow that I shot and my 6 month old son is taller than this bow!� I'm sure most of you have seen this bow and I was very impressed with how it shot.� All three of these bows had 60 pound limbs on them and the draw cycle on the Super Short GX was definitely a little different as the cams sit at a different angle on the limbs because the limbs are not flexed/loaded as�much�like they are on the X-Force and the Dream Season.� The draw cycle is a hard/aggressive wall with a very short valley at the end�and one that I could get use to.� I currently shoot a Drenalin so the draw cycles on these PSE bows were a change to the more consistent draw cycle�that I am use to with my�Mathews.

The Dream Season and the X-Force had a�very similar draw cycle.� Same axle to�axle, 32.5 inches but�the X-Force has a shorter 6 inch brace height compared to the Dream Season's 7 inch.� This shorter brace height on the X-Force pushes the arrow a little faster than the Dream�Season at a stated 352 fps compared to 342 fps.� The�draw cycle on these bows was noticeably different than the Super Short.� They still had that aggressive wall but the drop into the valley was not as drastic making for a smoother draw cycle.�

With the speed these bows are pushing arrows I was very impressed with the insignificant amount of hand shock coming through the riser.� The grip is very comfortable and these bows come with Mossy Oak Treestand camo.� They look and feel great.

I also shot the Bow Madness XS and for the price of around $500 this bow is a great value.� The one word that I would use to describe this bow, SMOOTH.� This bow looks very unusual, compared to the X-Force series,�due to the 9 inch nearly parallel limbs on a straight riser.� But don't let the looks fool you as the short 28.5 inch axle to axle and 7� 3/8 inch brace height still push your arrow at 316 fps.

I am waiting to shoot the new Mathews next week when it comes out and will also be shooting the Hoyt and BowTech bows shortly.� I will write a blog on these bows and let you know what I think.� Good luck in the field!

Matt

[...]

Matt-Paper Tuning Part 1

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +0100

�

Part 1-Making a Paper Tuner

I am still working on building my home bow shop like I'm sure many of you are.� There is a great PodCast, episode #53, on what tools and supplies you will need to start your own home bow shop.� One of the items missing from my shop was a paper tuner.� I have tried many times to quickly tune my bow shooting a piece of paper taped to my ladder rungs.� NOT a good idea and one I would NOT recommend as I put a few holes in the wall of my basement and was out a few arrows. �This blog entry will show you how you can make your own paper tuner by simply going to your local hardware and grocery store and spending around $30.

I know there are many different paper tuner designs�on the market and you have all probably seen one at your local pro shop so feel free to alter this design to adapt to your own specifications such as height and construction materials.� The main goal is to have the right type of paper and a tuner that will hold the paper tight so that you get clean crisp tears when you shoot through it.� I will be doing another blog shortly on how to use this paper tuner.

Construction Materials

You can purchase these materials at any Lowes, Home Depot, or plumbing/hardware supplies store.

-3 pieces of 1" schedule 40 plumbing pipe 10' long

-1 piece of 3/4" schedule 40 plumbing pipe 24" long

-6 �1" elbows 90 degrees

-4� 1" Ts

-2� 1"Ts with the leg of the T being 3/4"

-1 roll of freezer paper

-PVC cement

-Tools- tape, marker, saw, rasp or knife to nock down edges after cutting

Step 1-

Cut the 1" schedule 40 into the following dimensions;

8 pieces 24" long,

2 pieces 20" long,

2 pieces �46" long,

and 2 pieces 2" long.�

If you are tall/short and want to increase/decrease the height of your paper tuner then add or subtract�from the 46" measurement.

Cut the 3/4" pipe 24" long.

Clean with a knife or rasp the edges that were cut.

Step 2-

The base is made of all 24" pieces from the 1" pipe.� You want to glue this together on a flat surface so that all 6 joints are making contact with the floor.� Start with the two Ts and�glue a 24" piece on either end.� When gluing with the pvc cement, lightly cover the end of the pipe and the inside of the fitting and twist together.� After the two long sides are complete, glue the 90 degree elbows and then the connecting 24" ends making sure it stays flat and is not tourqued.

Step 3-

The sides are next and they can be cut to the necessary height.� I am 5' 11" and made mine so that I am usually shooting in the middle of the paper at full draw.� Take the 46" pieces and glue a T to one end.� Then glue the 2" piece� of the 1" schedule 40 to the other end of the T.� The last set of Ts are the ones with a 3/4" opening on the�leg�that will hold the pipe that the�paper is on.� Glue these Ts to each of the remaining portion of the 2" pipe.�

Make sure and align the holes!

After the Ts are glued and aligned, glue in the 20" pieces, continuing the side of the paper tuner.� Finally, glue a 90 degree elbow to the top of the 20" piece making sure that it aligns with the two Ts below.�

Don't glue any 24" pieces together on the upright portion of the tuner so that you can take off the paper and turn the top bar to roll up the excess paper.

Step 4

The 24" piece of 3/4" schedule 40 will go through the center of the freezer paper.�

�

Place the piping for the sides in the Ts on the base and attach the two sides with the three 24" pieces, leaving the top until last.� Don't glue the 90 degree elbows to the top horizontal 24" piece as you can roll the paper with it as you start to use it.

Step 5

String the paper behind the bottom 1" bar and then take it to the top 1" bar.� Tape it to the bar the length of the paper.� You can either cut and tape it each time you need a new piece or just twist the top bar and roll up the used paper.� You might need to use a small piece of tape on either side of the paper on the bottom bar to keep the paper tight.

Step 6

Place a target 6' behind the paper tuner to allow your fletching to clear and start shooting and�tuning.

Step 7

Read my upcoming blog, Paper Tuning Part 2, to learn how and use the paper tuner you just built.�

[...]

BowCast iTunes Feed - Issues Resolved

aroney@bowcast.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:00:00 +0100

For those of you having issues updating your iTunes feed to BowCast, it appears the issues have been resolved.� You should be able to successfully update BowCast, and latest episodes that you are missing should be downloaded to your iTunes client.

�

If you are still having issues, here are some things to try:

1)� Close your iTunes client, re-open the client, and try and "update" the BowCast Podcast.

2)� Delete BowCast from your Podcast list, then re-subscribe to the feed via the iTunes store.

3)� Shoot an arrow through your hard drive (DISCLAIMER:� This should be used as a last resort and definitely will not resolve any issues....but it may make you feel better.)

Feel free to email admin@BowCast.com if you are still experiencing issues.

Aneal�

[...]

Issues with iTunes Feed - BowCast

aroney@bowcast.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Folks,

It appears there are some issues with the BowCast iTunes feed that is preventing that ability to update the feed in the iTunes client and receive the latest episodes.

BowCast developers are working on the issue with Apple, and I will let you all know as soon as we have a resolution.

It should be noted that in the meantime, you can still download and listen to all the episodes directly from the BowCast.com site (Top Bar, click on Episodes and then click on the episode you want to listen to).

I apologize for any convenience, and will update you all as soon as we have this issue resolved.

Regards,

Aneal

[...]

When it rains it pours - My 2008 Antelope

amaro_jason@hotmail.com — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Talk about RAIN!!! It has been a long time since I have seen this much rain this late in the year. In fact, we had TORNADO warnings for the first two days of our Antelope season. I was praying that the area that I was hunting was relatively dry and that I might be able to sit a tank until I was forced to do a little spot and stalk.

Because of birthdays and family visiting I wasn't able to make the first two days of the hunt, usually two days isn't that big of a deal but our Antelope season is only 7 days long so you have to take advantage of everyday. So I rolled out of Silver City Monday morning around 5:00 am trying to make it to my hunting spot before noon. I was able to get to my camping spot around 10:00 am. So I quickly setup camp and headed to the mountain. I say mountain but in reality the area I was hunting was pretty flat. The good thing about this area is that I could see and glass a long way but the problem was that the antelope would see me coming.

A picture of some of the country

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So my hunt really started about 11:00 am on Monday. The plan was to drive to the little tank that I killed my buck last year and sit it. Hopefully, the rains that were hitting most of the state missed this little area of NM. I will admit that it was a lot drier than I thought it would be. The only problem that I had is that antelope will drink out of a little puddle made by a cow hoof print. Speaking of cows, when I got to my little tank it was surrounded by cattle... ARRRGHH!!! I mean surrounded. I understand that the rancher in the area has the right to have his cattle in the pasture but dang. It was a mess and I was pretty discouraged. Hoping for the best I stuck in out until sunset. Unfortunately, It was NBC or Nothing But Cows.

So I headed to the trailer for the evening to regroup and come up with a plan. There was no way that sitting water with that many cows around it, was going to work.

I think that the best hunters spend 75% of there time scouting and 25% of the time hunting. With Mother Nature throwing me a curve this year, I needed to do some serious speed-scouting. I needed to find one of two things; a tank that was being hit by goats that didn't have cattle around it or find some habitat that was more conducive to stalking.

Tuesday morning I covered a ton of ground with my Duramax and with my Swaro 15x's. I eliminated some unproductive ground and I found one little area that held some good goats. I saw them the previous day and if was lucky they might hold in the area during the hunt. If worse came to worse I could setup in the rocks and try to wait them out.

This is a picture of the area.
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I was starting to feel a little better about my chances but I knew it wasn't going to be as easy as last year. So my game planned changed from sitting water to spotting and stalking or hunting travel corridors.

Before I headed back to camp I did put the stalk on a nice buck with big cutters but I just wasn't able to get any closer than 125 yards before the sky's opened up. It was pretty dicey getting back to camp but I made it without any drama.

Before the roads got bad

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I know the picture above isn't the best but let me say that it was slick as owl crap.

That night I went to sleep with raining falling on the trailer, usually that is a soothing sound but I had some hunting to do so it was a little unnerving.

Before I new it my Treo was going off and it was time to hit the hills. I think that when you are spotting and stalking it is all about numbers. The more times you the try, the better your odds get. So I promised myself that I was going to put the stalk on every legal animal that I could glass up(if they were in a stalkable place of course). As I left camp it was obvious that I was in for another rainy day so my decision to spot and stalk was a wise one.

I put two stalks on in the morning and I pretty much blew both of them. I just ran out of terrain to hide behind but my third stalk had some real promise. You can't see it in the picture below but there are two bucks bedded on the top of the ridge. They were looking down and seemed to be nodding out. They were about 3/4 of a mile away and it seemed that they were going to stick around for a little while.

Ridge with bucks on it.

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So off I went. The stalk was going pretty well but about 400 yards from where I thought the bucks were bedded it started raining and lightening really hard. Crap, I had a few options; Call off the stalk like a wuss, put my noisy rain gear on and hope that the bucks wouldn't hear me or suck it up and hunt. All I could think of is a saying my buddy Dan Staton (fitness god) says, "Suck it up, Buttercup".

THE HUNT WAS ON... Something was going to hit the mud; a buck or a Jason.

I was using a little bush as a marker to guide me to where the bucks were bedded. I was able to get to that bush without a problem but now I needed to relocate the bucks. I knew that they had to be close. Danger Close. After about 10 minutes I was able to glass up some little tips sticking thru the sage about 80 yards away. Yes, I mean little but I was committed and given the conditions any buck would be great. The best part is that he was still looking downhill.

I have been practicing all summer and 80 yards would be a doable shot but I wanted to close the distance to about 40 yards. So I decide to push my luck and try to close the distance. Luckily, it was still raining so I had some background noise and I ground would be really soft.

It took me about 30 minutes to cover those last 40 yards but it seem like eternity.

So, I was close enough and I had a decent angle on his vitals but he was bedded and I didn't want to take that shot. To be honest, I don't know why I didn't want to shoot the buck when he was bedded but I just didn't. The wait was on.

To make this a successful stalk I had to do three things; Wait for him to stand, make the shot and don't get hit my lightening.

Taking a hint from the bucks I bedded down next to a sage bush and got comfortable.

After about 10 minutes he started to get fidgety and I knew he was about to stand. So I started to get ready for my opportunity. Almost in unison we both came to our knees. The only difference is that as I rose I also drew my bow back. I let my 40 yard pin on settle on his heart, whispered to myself "Confidence is Deadly" and let the arrow fly.

WHAAACK!!!!!

At first he don't know what happened but when he looked up the hill he saw me and he knew he was busted. He started running uphill to my right but I also ran than way hoping that he would see me and run downhill towards the truck. Guess what? He headed right to the truck but stopped to get a feel for the situation. I quickly ranged him again at 78 yards, I moved my sight and hit him again behind the last rib angling forward towards his front leg.

What a rush! I had just made the best stalk of my life. Is he a monster? No, but that really doesn't matter. I had everything against me and I had every reason to quit but I didn't. I sucked it up and I made the shot.

Nice Shot!

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How about a hero shot?

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A few things that I learned or could have done better on the hunt?

--- I recently switched from a Badlands 2800 pack to a BLACKHAWK! Blacktimber and that was a great move. I think that carrying a little bit smaller but very functionally pack made it easier to stalk my buck. IMO we often we try to get the highest capacity pack but that is always the best decision. Stick to a pack size that fits the situation.

--- I need to find another place in this unit that has more stalkable terrain. Flat is great when hunting water but not so great when spotting and stalking.

--- I really like my new Sure-loc sight. It is a basic 3-pin but it has a slider so I can adjust it on the fly. I had my pins set at 20-30-40 but my sight tape went out to 85 yards. I just moved my slider and I was dead-on out to 85 yards.

--- The new Tekan II's do fly like field points.

This is one of my favorite pictures

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A Bloody Bumper - That means you had a successful hunt and the animal is loaded.

So that was my 2008 Antelope hunt... WOW.... What a hunt...

I hope you liked the story...
Take Care

Jason

[...]

My Introduction Blog Entry - Dave

daveedge@bowcast.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Hello Everybody in Bowcast land. How about a little about myself. I am 16 yrs old I live in sw Colorado. I will be a junior in high school this year. I don’t have to go very far to go bow hunting just out my back door for mule deer. We have some good bucks in our area. I have been hunting for 5 years and I started bowhunting in 2006.I have killed a bull elk with my bow so far. The reasons why I wanted to write for bowcast is to help young archers and give people a different point of view. I have a lot to learn in the years to come. My personal favorite species to hunt is the mule deer because it is a blast trying to out smart the gray ghost. My plans for the future are to keep writing for bowcast and I would like to guide the eastern plains of colorado for the huge mule deer and whitetail that roam the plains.
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Dave [...]

What is this little creature...

amaro_jason@hotmail.com — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:05:42 +0100

In NM we have had two cases in the last week where a wild animal has either attacked and dragged a child away or has eaten someones little FOO-FOO. Could it have been one of these? What is the name of this little animal? The person who comments first with the proper answer will get the other Nocked and Loaded DVD and window sticker. See Aneal's blog for details... This video came from one of my trail cams.

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Take Care and GOOD LUCK

Jason

[...]